The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser for oily skin
Glycolipids
Behenyl Alcohol
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Pentylene Glycol
Glyceryl Stearate
High
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for oily skin; a few cleansers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers excellent cleansing for your oily skin due to the presence of glycolipids, which effectively cleanse pores without causing irritation.
- The inclusion of phytic acid provides moderate exfoliation and mild pore-refining benefits, complementing the cleansing action for your oily skin.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and has no risk of irritation.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin fresh. Always make sure to follow with a good SPF in the morning.
- Apply your cleanser as the first step in the morning or the second step in the evening before your toner.
- Gently massage a small amount onto your face using circular motions, then rinse well with water .
- You can apply this cleanser safely on damp skin for a refreshing and easy wash.
- Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes and stop use if irritation occurs.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 1.6k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with dry and sensitive skin frequently praise this cleanser for its non-stripping and hydrating formula that leaves the face soft and comfortable. Many users also find it gentle and suitable for sensitive skin types. However, a significant number of reviews indicate that it struggles to remove heavy makeup, especially waterproof products, often requiring a double cleanse. Some users also note a moderate frequency of an unpleasant natural scent and a low frequency of residue or breakouts.
Highlights
Non-drying, hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “skin feels soft”
- “doesn't feel stripping”
- “leaves skin hydrated”
- “no tight feeling”
Gentle, sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “no irritation”
- “respects skin barrier”
- “very gentle formula”
Poor makeup removal Often Mentioned
- “struggles with mascara”
- “doesn't remove foundation”
- “need to scrub hard”
- “requires double cleanse”
Creamy texture Sometimes Noted
- “nice gel-cream consistency”
- “glides over skin”
- “milky texture”
- “feels luxurious”
Good morning cleanser Sometimes Noted
- “perfect for morning”
- “removes SPF well”
- “good second cleanse”
- “refreshes skin”
Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “weird nutty smell”
- “smells like plastic”
- “funky natural odor”
- “bad scent”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused cystic acne”
- “broke me out”
- “clogged pores”
- “tiny whiteheads appeared”
Leaves residue Rarely Noted
- “hard to rinse off”
- “leaves a film”
- “greasy residue”
- “doesn't feel clean”
Sources: lovi.care, theordinary.com, influenster.com, ulta.com, sephora.co.uk, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser a great fit for oily skin?
This cleanser is a great fit because the glycolipids effectively clean your pores without causing irritation, while phytic acid provides gentle exfoliation and refines pores. It is safe for oily skin because it has no harsh ingredients and is unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Oleo Science, 2012International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Glycolipids make this cleanser a great fit by effectively cleaning your pores without causing irritation. Phytic acid also helps by providing moderate exfoliation and mild pore-refining benefits for oily skin.
What do Glycolipids do for oily skin?
Glycolipids help keep oily skin balanced and hydrated without feeling heavy or greasy. They support moisture levels and keep skin smooth, while helping to protect against everyday skin stress.
Journal of Oleo Science, 2012International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025
What does Behenyl Alcohol do for oily skin?
Behenyl Alcohol helps keep oily skin feeling soft and smooth without making it greasy. This ingredient is unlikely to clog pores and works well to keep your moisturizer feeling light on the skin.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine as the main cleansing step, and it is also used in your weekly routine. It is a great fit because it cleans pores effectively without causing irritation, while phytic acid provides moderate exfoliation.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying the cleanser first to clean your skin, and then following with your retinol treatment. This cleanser is a great fit because it effectively cleanses pores without irritation, and using gentle formulas helps keep oily skin calm while using stronger active ingredients like retinol.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser is a great fit for your oily skin and can be used daily both morning and night. Glycolipids help clean your pores effectively without causing irritation.
Journal of Oleo Science, 2012International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is a great fit for oily skin and is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because it uses glycolipids to clean effectively without irritation, while lacking harsh ingredients.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can use this cleanser on your body and around the eyes because it has a gentle formula that cleans effectively without causing irritation. Studies on glycolipid emulsions show they are safe for the eyes and body while helping improve smoothness and hydration.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Behenyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Mannosylerythritol lipids recovered the viability of SDS-damaged human skin cells by over 80% and increased stratum corneum water content while suppressing perspiration in human skin compared with a control.
Journal of Oleo Science, 2012An Acmella oleracea extract-loaded glycolipid emulsion serum applied topically demonstrated safety with no ocular irritation or systemic dermal absorption, alongside significant improvements in facial skin hydration, smoothness, and reductions in roughness, scaliness, and wrinkles.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025MEL-C showed antioxidant activity and a higher protective activity against H2O2-induced oxidative stress than arbutin in cultured human skin fibroblasts, along with the repression of cyclooxygenase-2 expression.
Journal of Oleo Science, 2012Topical docosanol 10% cream applied 5 times daily reduced the median time to healing by 18 hours compared to placebo in adults with recurrent herpes simplex labialis.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2001A 10% docosanol cream initiated within 12 hours of symptom onset reduced time-to-healing compared with a polyethylene glycol control in patients with recurrent herpes labialis.
Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy, 2004Ten percent docosanol cream is a safe and effective topical treatment for recurrent herpes labialis in immunocompetent adults, offering efficacy comparable to prescription topical antivirals and a low risk of resistance due to its unique mechanism.
Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy, 2010Exposure of epidermal full-thickness skin equivalents to a blend of betaine, pentylene glycol, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Rhodiola rosea root extract significantly increased antioxidant, skin barrier, and oxidative stress biomarkers while reducing the negative impact of hydrogen peroxide on MMP3, MMP12, FBN2, ANXA1, and HGF, whereas a blend of Narcissus tazetta bulb extract and Schisandra chinensis fruit extract significantly increased 8 growth factors, 7 signaling, 7 structural/barrier function, 7 oxidative stress biomarkers, and specific microRNAs over control levels.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2018
Ingredients
Water, Behenyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Glycolipids, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Diutan Gum, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Phytate, Phytic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.